Unit I – Constitutional

Underpinnings
Federalism
The cake of government
Happy Birthday
 Today in 1787 the
Constitution was
created.
 For 232 years you live
in the only working
revolution
Essential Question: How does federalism meet the guidelines of the
Madisonian Model of Government and allow the Constitution to be a living
document?
Students can:
Decipher federalism’s role in the madisonian model of government
Determine the roles of the federal and state government under a federal
system
Evaluate whether federalism allows the federal government to usurp state
authority
Agenda
The Politics of a Supreme Court Nominee
Federalism in American Government
Let Them Eat Cake

HOMEWORK
Federalism, The Undiscover Country – Due, Thursday September 19
 Polling Americans
Is the current SCOTUS vacancy Poll: Half of voters think the
more of a motivator for Republican winner of the 2020 election
or Democratic voters?  should pick Ruth Bader
Republican voters  38.64%  (660 Ginsburg's replacement – USA
votes)  TODAY
Democratic voters  61.36%  (1,048
votes)   Half in new poll say winner of
 Total Votes: 1,708 November election should
replace Ginsburg – The Hill
?
Should the current President select
the next nominee for the Supreme
Court vacancy?
 Federalism Quiz
Federalism Powers: Put an (R) if it is a reserve powers for states, (E) if it is
an enumerated power for the federal government, or (C - concurrent) if both
state and federal government can use the power
1- Establish marriage contracts
2- Print & coin money
3- Collect taxes
4- Establish voting requirements
5- Declare war
6- Control intrastate commerce
7- Establish courts and prisons
8- Control interstate commerce
9- Establish guidelines for public education
10- Regulate a military
 Federalism Quiz
 Put an F next to all of the following that are examples of
federalism.
1-The way we elect senators
2-US speed limit laws
3-The power of the president to veto
4-The Confederate States of America
5-The constitutional amendment process
6-The impeachment process
7-Voting for US president
8-Qualificaitons for president
9-Judicial review
10-The Americans with Disabilities Act
 Madisonian Model
“The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal
government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in State
governments are numerous and indefinite”
- James Madison, Federalist 45

 What protections does the Constitution grant the states from

federal government encroachment on their authority?
 Federalism
 Federal system: Division of power to govern between state and federal
government (Blends a centralize and decentralize gov.)
Federal government
determines public States carry out
policy public policy

Unitary System Confederation

•Highly centralized government •An alliance amongst state government
•National government can share or •Decentralized government – Articles of
remove power with state & local gov. Confederation
 Division of Power
Government
Authority

Enumerated Concurrent Powers

Powers •Federal & State
Reserve Powers
•Federal Gov. only Gov.
•State Gov. only
•Ex. •Ex.
•Granted by 10th
• Coin $$ • Taxation
Amendment • Borrow $$
• Maintain
•Ex.
military • Enforce laws
• Marriage
• Regulate
license
interstate &
• Education
foreign
• Intra-state
commerce
trade
• Voter
qualification
 Why the founders choose federalism
Encourage
experimentation –
Legalize Marijuana

Unity without
Check the growth of
uniformity: issues
tyranny – prevent
effect national, state, &
factionalism
local levels

Keeps government
closer to the people
Clarified Division of Power

Cooperative Federalism Dual Federalism

(Marbled Cake Federalism) (Layered Cake Federalism)
•State & Federal gov. share •State & Federal gov. have
power separate spheres
 Unity of a Nation
“A good Government implies two things: first, fidelity to the object of
Government, which is the happiness of the People; secondly, a knowledge
of the means by which that object can be best attained.” James Madison,
Federalist 62

U.S. Constitution binds the

states as a nation
•Full Faith & Credit Clause
•Privileges & Immunities Clause
•Extradition
 Constitutional Basis of Federalism

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution,

nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States
respectively, or to the people.” Bill of Rights, 10th Amendment

Federalism in the Constitution

 Article VI: Supremacy clause

 10th Amendment: Reserved powers for
the state
 United States v. Darby: “state powers do
NOT supersede federal government
authority”

Why does the United States have disputes over federal and state power?
 The Clear Line Dividing POWER?
 Assignment: Let Them Eat Cake – challenging Federalist 45
“The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are
few and defined. Those which are to remain in State governments are numerous and
indefinite”
- James Madison, Federalist 45

OR

Dual Federalism Cooperative Federalism

Essential Question: How does federalism meet the guidelines of the
Madisonian Model of Government and allow the Constitution to be a living
document?
Students can:
Decipher federalism’s role in the madisonian model of government
Determine the roles of the federal and state government under a federal
system
Evaluate whether federalism allows the federal government to usurp state
authority
Agenda
Court Clarity on Federalism
Preempting the States Authority
SCOTUS CHALLENGE

HOMEWORK
Read Pgs. 51-57 in Amsco US Government & Politics & Chris Edward’s
“Fiscal Federalism”
Complete The Golden Rule
There Ought to be a Law
 Should amend to end the tyranny of Federalism – evaluate
whether Governor Abbott of Texas is on point
 Court Clarity
 How have McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) and U.S. v. Lopez
(1995) defined federalism in distinguishing the authority
between federal and state government?
The U.S.
The federal Constitution
government pre- establishes state
empt state power… have power …

“The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are
few and defined. Those which are to remain in State governments are numerous and
indefinite” Wasn’t I clear?
- James Madison, Federalist 45
 Clarifying Federalism
Heart of Atlanta v. United States 1963 United States v. Lopez 1995

The Court held that the Commerce Yes. The possession of a gun in a
Clause allowed Congress to regulate local local school zone is not an economic
incidents of commerce, and that the Civil activity that might, through repetition
Right Act of 1964 passed constitutional
elsewhere, have a substantial effect
muster. The Court noted that the
applicability of Title II was "carefully
on interstate commerce. The law is a
limited to enterprises having a direct and criminal statute that has nothing to do
substantial relation to the interstate flow with "commerce" or any sort of
of goods and people. . ." The Court thus economic activity.
concluded that places of public
accommodation had no "right" to select
guests as they saw fit, free from
governmental regulation.
 Expanding Federal Power
State Government

Federal Government

Supremacy Clause “I HAVE THE

POWER!
Necessary & Proper Clause
Interstate Commerce Clause

Power of the Purse – Tax &

Spending
Federal Government
14th Amendment - Civil Rights
 Pre-emption
 Federal authority subverts state government authority
 Expressed pre-emption: a federal law expressly federal authority over
states
Ex. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
(ERISA) preempts all state laws “insofar as they may now or
hereafter relate to any employee benefit plan,”

 Implied pre-emption: courts granting federal authority over state

power
Ex. National Labor Relations Board regulates labor
contracts
 Trumping State Authority

Federal Supersedes States

Commerce clause: federal National Security: federal
government use of regulation government protecting America
power (Gibbon v. Ogden 1824) (9/11)

14th Amendment: federal Full Faith & Credit Clause:

government has the authority to reciprocity amongst states
protect civil rights (Brown vs. Board (Hollingsworth v. Perry 2009 &
1954) Defense of Marriage Act DOMA)
Debt: state government deficit to
carry out public policy (National
Federation of Business v. Sebelius
2011)
 Blocking Pre-emption
Nullification = States blocking
federal power
New questions about nullification
• Virginia-Kentucky Resolution
1799 – states can void a federal law
• Nullification crisis 1828-1832:
John C. Calhoun argues states can
void a federal law
• Confederate States of America
1860-1865:
• Immigration sanctuary cities
• Gun sanctuary cities/counties
• Obamacare mandate
Essential Question: How does federalism meet the guidelines of the
Madisonian Model of Government and allow the Constitution to be a living
document?
Students can:
Decipher federalism’s role in the madisonian model of government
Determine the roles of the federal and state government under a federal
system
Evaluate whether federalism allows the federal government to usurp state
authority
Agenda
Brutus 1 or Chris Edwards
Cooperative or Coercive Federalism?
A defense of federalism

HOMEWORK
Come the Devolution by Lenny Goldberg & Dissecting the Devolution
Unit IB Federalism Test – Thursday, October 8
Presidential Debate Night
1st Debate tonight at 9:00 PM

Moderator – Chris Wallace

 A Modern Tyranny
“The legislature of the United States are vested with the great and uncontrollable
powers of laying and collecting taxes, duties, imposts, and excises; of regulating trade,
raising and supporting armies, organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia,
instituting courts, and other general powers; and are by this [necessary and proper]
clause invested with the power of making all laws, proper and necessary, for carrying
all these into execution; and they may so exercise this power as entirely to annihilate
all the State governments, and reduce this country to one single government. And if
they may do it, it is pretty certain they will; for it will be found that the power retained
by individual States, small as it is, will be a clog upon the wheels of the government of
the United States; the latter, therefore, will be naturally inclined to remove it out of the
way.”
 Brutus (Robert Yates) October 17, 1787

Evaluate the similarities between Chris Edward’s “Fiscal

Federalism and Brutus I to determine whether federalism has
extended the reach of the national government over the states.
 Unit Crossover
 Federalism in the political ideology realm
 Why have members of the Republican argued that America needs smaller
federal government?
 Fiscal Federalism
 Fiscal federalism focus: federal government’s use of taxation and
spending
 Tools of fiscal federalism
Grants-in-aid

Formula grants

Mandates: No Child
Left Behind

Purpose to provide funding to states to assist in meeting the

needs of their populations
Coercive Federalism
COERCIVE FEDERALISM: 1960s – 1980s
Factors:
Grants in aid & Formula Grants – “I HAVE THE
States have NO discretion POWER!”

RISE of Earmarks – Congress

spending to benefit a state or district
MANDATES – rules or conditions of
grants - (Environmental Impact studies,
raising drinking age, Civil Rights

Shift from place to person – RISE of

the Social Welfare State (3/4th of Federal Government
federal aid = individual payments)
Mandates of the Federal Government
 Mandates – rules made by the federal government in to guide
public policy
 Ex. Completing an environmental impact study or hiring of workers
following Civil Rights Legislation
Federal Mandates
 Modern Mandates
 American Disability Act: required accessibility (zero grade entrances,
elevators, etc.)
 No Child Left Behind: States demonstrate that all children can achieve
success in the classroom (standardize testing) – UNFUNDED
MANDATE
 Clean Air Act: required standards for pollution emissions

Meant to create uniform standards for states

•States can refuse them, but it cost them intergovernmental
revenues

Debate: Whether the federal

government is promoting a national
standard at the cost of state autonomy?
Intergovernmental revenues
today

• Universalism – everybody gets a

share

• Intense state rivalries for federal $

$$$s
Intergovernmental Relations Today

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman ©

2008
Impact of Fiscal Federalism
Size Matters
Evaluating Federalism
Prompt: Evaluate whether federalism has enabled the national
government to usurp the power of the states

List and explain ideas that support both sides of the argument
Proper Balance Coercive Federalism
 Federalism
Advantages for Democracy
 Increases access to
government
 Local problems can be
solved locally
 Hard for political parties or
interest groups to dominate
all politics
Evaluate whether the advantages of Federalism outweigh the
disadvantages.
Disadvantages for Democracy
 States have different levels
of service
 Local interest can
counteract national interests
 Too many levels of
government and too much
money
Essential Question: How does federalism meet the guidelines of the
Madisonian Model of Government and allow the Constitution to be a living
document?
Students can:
Decipher federalism’s role in the madisonian model of government
Determine the roles of the federal and state government under a federal
system
Formulate arguments of whether the framers constructed a government that
promotes tyranny
Agenda
The political ideology of federalism
Pre-emption
Money changes everything

HOMEWORK
Devolution FRQ – Due Friday
Annotate Federalist 45
Unit IB Federalism Test – Thursday, October 8
Big idea
Prompt: Evaluate whether federalism has enabled the national
government to usurp the power of the states
Explain how the idea of Devolution Revolution provides a
counter argument to the prompt.

“the most important cause of our . . .

problems has been the government
itself.”
 Rise of Devolution
The most dangerous statement and
government official can say is “Hi! I
am from the government and I am
here to help”

Devolution Revolution = “New Federalism”

•Republican (conservative ideology)
•Focus: returning power to the states by the federal government
• Cut federal deficit
• Decrease the size of government
 Devolution Revolution
 End the Era of Big Government
 1980’s Reagan’s consolidation of categorical grants into block grants
 Bill Clinton’s Reform American Families with Dependent Children
(Welfare Reform)
 Contract with America – Entitlement reform
“The Era of Big
Government is over!
 Federalism Grants
Categorical grants: federal
money giving for a specific Revenue sharing: gave
purpose federal $$ based on
Ex. Grant for highway formula, but did not
construction required match funding

Federal $$ under
federalism

Devolution
Revolution – New Block grants: give states
Federalism less $$ but greater freedom
on how the $$ can be use.
Ex. Transportation grant
Welfare Reform

Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act

1996
•Ends Aid to Families with Dependent Children
(Welfare) as a federally run program
Clinton’s Welfare Reform
Welfare Reform
 Contract with America

Contract with America

•Attempted to reform Medicaid
•Failed to continued issues with bureaucracy, cost, and
fraud/waste
 Lenny Goldberg’s Premise

 Dissecting Lenny Goldberg’s “Come Devolution”

 Thesis: What is he arguing about Devolution
Revolution
 10 ways Goldberg supports his argument
Evaluating Federalism
Prompt: Evaluate whether federalism has enabled the national
government to usurp the power of the states
“The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government, are few and
defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.”
- James Madison, Federalist 45

List and explain ideas that support both sides of the argument
Proper Balance Coercive Federalism
Essential Question: How does federalism meet the guidelines of the
Madisonian Model of Government and allow the Constitution to be a living
document?
Students can:
Decipher federalism’s role in the madisonian model of government
Determine the roles of the federal and state government under a federal
system
Formulate arguments of whether the framers constructed a government that
promotes tyranny
Agenda
Federalism Line
History of Federalism Conflict
The Balance of Power

HOMEWORK
Read pages 75-90: Devolution or Bust
Essay outline development
Federalism Test – Wednesday, October 2
Failures of Fiscal Federalism
Why are states continuing to have
budget shortfalls when the federal
government is giving them
billions in federal grants?
•Rising cost
•Mandates cause states to spend $
$$ (environmental impact
studies)
•Block grants: give less money
and more freedom
 Let Them Eat Cake
 Marble vs. Layered Cake – Federalism Debate
• How does intergovernmental
 The Golden Rule
revenues re-define the relationship
between state and federal
government? (Categorical Grants,
Formula Grants, Grants in aid, &
Block Grants)
• Why do mandates cause so much
controversy between state and
federal government? (Ex. South
Dakota v. Dole, No Child Left
Behind, Free and Reduce Lunch)
• How does political ideology play a
critical role in this debate?
 Money from the Federal gov to state gov

Fiscal Federalism – Aid or Tyranny

1.How do each of the following increase the power of the
federal government?
•Formula Grants
•Categorical Grants
•Mandates
2. Why would conservatives argue for fiscal federalism that
utilized block grants
 A testament
Federal government can pre-empt and limit state
authority States can resist federal over exertion of power
 Federalism Debate
The State governments may be regarded as constituent and essential parts
of the federal government; whilst the latter is nowise essential to the
operation or organization of the former. . . . Thus, each of the principal
branches of the federal government will owe its existence more or less to the
favor of the State governments, and must consequently feel a dependence,
which is much more likely to beget a disposition too obsequious than too
overbearing towards them.
- Federalist 45, James Madison

A. How has the Constitution upheld the argument made by

James Madison in Federalist 45?
B. How has practical application of the Constitution
demonstrated Anti-Federalist’s belief about the Constitution
in regards to federalism?
 Court Cases – siding for the state
Lopez vs. U.S. (1995): Federal
Guns Free School Zone Act
unconstitutional – (overreach of the
interstate commerce clause)

Morrison vs. U.S. (2000):

Violence Against Women Act
unconstitutional – (overreach of the
interstate commerce clause)

Supports Dual Federalism (Layered Cake Federalism)

Perspective on Federalism
Federalism was included as a principle in the Constitution as a way to ensure
that the federal government meet the challenges of the nation, but not usurp
the authority of the states. Debate has raged on as to whether the limitations
of federalism have protected state’s government power.
Develop an argument about whether federalism has provided an appropriate
guideline for empowering the national government to meet the demands of a
nation or grants the authority to usurp state authority.
Use at least one piece of evidence from one of the following foundational
documents:
 Federalist 45
 Brutus 1
 McCulloch v. Maryland
 Lopez v. United States
 Fiscal Federalism
 Federalism in the political ideology realm
 How have Republicans utilized fiscal federalism to shrink the size of the
federal government?
Essential Question: How does federalism meet the guidelines of the
Madisonian Model of Government and allow the Constitution to be a living
document?
Students can:
Decipher federalism’s role in the Madisonian model of government
Determine the roles of the federal and state government under a federal
system
Formulate arguments of whether the framers constructed a government that
promotes tyranny
Agenda
Transfer on Power
Devolution Revolution
Goldberg’s Premise

HOMEWORK
-Public policy research
-Essay outlines – Essay assessment Friday, 9/27
-Federalism Test – Wednesday, Oct. 2
 The Power of the Feds
 Determine how your assigned topic has strengthened or weakened the
power of the federal government. Explain its impact of federal power
authority.

A Dual Sphere The Federal

of Influence Leviathan
Essential Question: How does federalism meet the guidelines of the
Madisonian Model of Government and allow the Constitution to be a living
document?
Students can:
Decipher federalism’s role in the Madisonian model of government
Determine the roles of the federal and state government under a federal
system
Formulate arguments of whether the framers constructed a government that
promotes tyranny
Agenda
Federalism Defining Moments
Public Policy Federalism

HOMEWORK
Research Public Policy
Essay outline (Essay – Friday, September 27)
Federalism Quiz – Wednesday, Oct. 2nd
Quote for Question 3
 “The powers delegated by the proposed
Constitution to the federal government are
few and defined. Those that are to remain
in the State governments are numerous
and indefinite.”
 Federalist 45, James Madison, 1788
 The Goldberg Premise
 Goldberg’s Premise: Devolution is a conceivable solution to
carry out public policy, but has been poorly implemented.
 Write two statements that demonstrate how Goldberg supports
this premise
 Issues of Fiscal Federalism
 Failures:
 Expanded bureaucratic controls
 Court case interpretation – busing, prison overcrowding, etc.
 Caused extra cost on states
 Mandates were not funded
 Greater dependence of states on federal $$
 Washington needs held over local needs
 Too ideological of a battle even when both parties support devolution
 No agreements between state and federal government over cost projections
 Developing Revolution
 1960s Johnson’s Great Society: expansion of
federal government power through civil rights
and social programs
 1970’s Nixon’s creates revenue sharing to give
state greater flexibility in the use federal funds
 1980’s Reagan’s New Federalism restricts
federal government intrusion on states
 1990’s– Congress shifts authority over social,
educational, & social programs to the states
 1995 – Contract with America: authority given
to states to overhaul federal mandated programs
“welfare” and agrees to pay them for
enforcement while curbing new federal
programs
Essential Question: How does federalism meet the guidelines of the
Madisonian Model of Government and allow the Constitution to be a living
document?
Students can:
Decipher federalism’s role in the madisonian model of government
Determine the roles of the federal and state government under a federal
system
Formulate arguments of whether the framers constructed a government that
promotes tyranny
Agenda
The Great Debate over Federalism
The Harkness of Federalism

HOMEWORK
Prep for Essay
Federalism Test – Wednesday, October 2nd
Federalism policy letter’s rough draft due Monday
 Restoring Federalism
 Evaluate the following proposal as to whether or not it is the correct course
of action for the United States and our government.
Perspective on Federalism
 Federalism was included as a principle in the Constitution as a way to
insure that the federal government meet the challenges of the nation, but
not usurp the authority of the states. Debate has raged on as to whether the
limitations of federalism have protected state’s government power.
 Develop an argument about whether federalism has provided an
appropriate guideline for empowering the national government to meet the
demands of a nation or grants the authority to usurp state authority.
 Use at least one piece of evidence from one of the following foundational
documents:
 Federalist 45
 Brutus 1
 McCulloch v. Maryland
 Lopez v. United States
 Compliance or Coercive Federalism
 Evaluate whether cooperative federalism promotes a positive
relationship between the states and the federal government.

Cooperation – Good Corrosive – Destructive

Will
 Compliance or Coercive Federalism
 Evaluate your public policy to determine whether the
federal government is creating a national standard to
promote the general welfare or arm twisting to force
states to carry out its bidding.
Essential Question: How does federalism meet the guidelines of the
Madisonian Model of Government and allow the Constitution to be a living
document?
Students can:
Decipher federalism’s role in the madisonian model of government
Determine the roles of the federal and state government under a federal
system
Formulate arguments of whether the framers constructed a government that
promotes tyranny
Agenda
Letter of Petition
Mandates of Government
A Federalism Review

HOMEWORK
Read Bicameralism by Design and complete attendance question
Federalism – state v. federal government complete by next class
Repairs to the Federalism Test
Quote for question 3
“The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the
federal government are few and defined. Those that are to remain
in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.”
Federalist 45, James Madison, 1788

Question 6
Answer A should read - A delegation of power from the federal
government to state governments, increasing state and local
sovereignty
Mandates of the Federal Government
 Mandates – rules made by the federal government in to guide
public policy
 Ex. Completing an environmental impact study or hiring of workers
following Civil Rights Legislation
 Federal Mandates
 Modern Mandates
 American Disability Act: required accessibility (zero grade entrances,
elevators, etc.)
 No Child Left Behind: States demonstrate that all children can achieve
success in the classroom (standardize testing)
 Clean Air Act: required standards for pollution emissions
Meant to create uniform standards for states
•States can refuse them, but it cost them intergovernmental
revenues

Debate: Whether the federal

government is promoting a national
standard at the cost of state autonomy?
Connecting the Dots of Federalism
 Define the 21 concepts – use examples
 Organize terms
 Apply them to content
 Limits to the federal government
 Empowering the federal government over the states

 Fiscal federalism

 Cooperative vs. dual federalism

 New Federalism or Devolution Revolution

 American Federalism
1. In a federal system of government, political power is primarily
__________.
A. vested in local government
B. vested in regional government
C. vested in the central government
D. divided between the central government and regional governments
E. divided between regional governments and local governments
 American Federalism
2. Which of the following is the best example of devolution revolution?
A. The No Child Left Behind Law, which provided states with monetary
incentives for meeting national educational guidelines
B. The McCulloch v. Maryland case, which allowed the federal
government to maintain a national bank
C. Civil Rights legislation mandating that states not discriminate
D. Block grants, by which money from the national government is given
to the states for discretionary use with broad guidelines
E. The federal tax code, which provides deductions for local charities
F. An invasion bad really bad musicians who sing songs about mandates
 American Federalism
3. In the history of the federal system, which major area has created tension
between the states and the federal government?
A. the representation of states in Congress
B. who controls public policy and what it should be
C. who has the greatest influence in presidential politics
D. who controls interstate commerce
E. the redrawing of state borders
 American Federalism
4. General purposes of federal grants include which of the following?
I. Supply states with revenue
II. Establish minimum national standards
III. Control state political systems
IV. Solve national problems without the growth of federal agencies

A.II and III only

B.I and III only
C.I, II, and IV only
D.I, III, and IV only
E.I, II, III, and IV
Thesis of Devolution
 America has always had to balance freedom versus
the need for government involvement. How effective
was the trend of Devolution Revolution in achieving
a proper balance of the principle of federalism

 Write your thesis

Federalism Review
 Why was McCulloch v. Maryland an important case in
defining federalism?
 How can the federal government extend its power over the
states?
 Give examples of three concurrent powers.
 How does the federal government carry out fiscal federalism?
 What new type of federalism did Newt Gringrich’s Contract
with America create?
Empowering Devolution
 There are three type of block grants: operational grants are for
purposes like running state child care programs; capital grants are
for purposes like building local wastewater treatment plants;
entitlement grants are for purposes like transferring income to
families and individuals.
 All of the block grants that existed before the 104th Congress

convened were operation or capital only, and thus, the 104th

Congress enacted a large number of entitlement grants.
 Welfare (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) and Medicaid
were not created as block grants, though they account for half of all
federal grant-in-aid spending.
 However, the 104th Congress tried to turn these two in block grant
programs.
 Welfare did turn into a block program, but Medicaid did not.
Devolution Revolution Welfare
Reform
 Personal Responsibility and
Work Opportunity Act 1996
 Ends Aid to Families with
Dependent Children (Welfare)
as a federally run program
 Empowers states to run
welfare with federal assistance
(block grants)
Supporters of Welfare Reform
 AFDC allowed a life long entitlement
program
 The federal government was to
bureaucratic and inefficient in running this
program
 States are more in touch with their
residents, and could be more effective in
running the program
Critics of Devolution
 The federal government
should guarantee some
federal assistance for needy
families
 States would struggle with
the program during
economic hard times
 States lack the
infrastructure for the welfare
Welfare reform effects
 Welfare caseloads
fell across the
nation by 1.2
million